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James 1 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly, 我的弟兄们，你们作教师的人，不要太多，该知道我们作教师的，要受更严厉的审判。 2 for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also. 实在，我们众人都犯许多过失；谁若在言语上不犯过失，他便是个完人，也必能控制全身。 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. 试看，我们把嚼环放在马嘴里，就可叫它们顺服我们，调动它们的全身。 4 It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot's inclination wishes. 又看，船只虽然很大，又为大风所吹动，只用小小的舵，便会随掌舵者的意思往前转动； 5 In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. 同样，舌头虽然是一个小小的肢体，却能夸大。看，小小的火，能燃着广大的树林！ 6 The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. 舌头也像是火。舌头，这不义的世界，安置在我们的肢体中，玷污全身，由地狱取出火来，燃烧生命的轮子。 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 各类的走兽、飞禽、爬虫、水族，都可以驯服，且已被人类驯服了； 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 至于舌头，却没有人能够驯服，且是个不止息的恶物，满含致死的毒汁。 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God. 我们用它赞颂上主和父，也用它诅咒那照天主的肖像而受造的人； 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers. 赞颂与诅咒竟从同一口里发出！我的弟兄们，这事决不该这样！ 11 Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water? 泉源岂能从同一孔穴，涌出甜水和苦水来？ 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh. 我的弟兄们，无花果树岂能结橄榄，或者葡萄树岂能结无花果？咸水也不能产生甜水。 13 2 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom. 你们中谁是有智慧，有见识的呢？让他用好品行，彰显他的行为是出于智慧的温和！ 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 若你们心里怀有恶毒的嫉妒和纷争，就不可夸耀，不可说谎违反真理。 15 Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 这种智慧不是从上而来的，而是属于下地的，属于血肉的，属于魔鬼的； 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. 因为那里有嫉妒和纷争，那里就有扰乱和种种恶行。 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. 至于从上而来的智慧，它首先是纯洁的，其次是和平的，宽仁的，柔顺的，满有仁慈和善果的，不偏不倚的，没有伪善的。 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. 为缔造和平的人，正义的果实，乃是在和平中种植的。 Footnotes(注解) 1 [1-12] The use and abuse of the important role of teaching in the church (James 3:1) are here related to the good and bad use of the tongue (James 3:9-12), the instrument through which teaching was chiefly conveyed (see Sirach 5:11-6:1; 28:12-26). 2 [13-18] This discussion of true wisdom is related to the previous reflection on the role of the teacher as one who is in control of his speech. The qualities of the wise man endowed from above are detailed (James 3:17-18; cf Gal 5:22-23), in contrast to the qualities of earthbound wisdom (James 3:14-16; cf 2 Cor 12:20). |
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